Latest Olympic sailing rankings announced

"I’m back!" Barbara Kendall winner of the Womens RS:X and overall winner at the Princess Sofia Trophy regatta Rubén Ballester

Atypical conditions greeted a massive turnout in the Olympic Classes at the 38th ISAF Grade 2 Princess Sofia Trophy in Palma, Spain, and they remained that way throughout the week. Only for the Medal Races did the breeze really fill in and by then many of the pre-regatta favourites had already fallen by the wayside.

Whilst the Spanish, British and French crews struggled, the Kiwis seemed to relish the conditions and posted a fantastic set of results across the regatta. With two gold, a silver and two bronze medals, they were far and away the top performers in Palma. In this Ranking release they remain sixth in the national stakes, but some of their key performers, including Palma gold medallists Tom ASHLEY (NZL) and Barbara KENDALL (NZL), look poised to move up during the year.

Certainly it is not all doom and gloom for Great Britain. With two top spots, two #2s and one #3 they still lead the way in the Rankings ahead of Australia with two #1s, one #2 and 1 #3. Britain’s two leading crews also jointly hold the distinction of being the Rankings’ longest leaders, with both Paul GOODISON (GBR) in the Laser and Christina BASSADONE and Saskia CLARK (GBR) in the Women’s 470 making it one full year in the world #1 spots.

Aussies On Top

It is little surprise that Tornado stars Darren BUNDOCK and Glenn ASHBY (AUS) hold the top points total of any of the 2,576 crews Ranked across the 11 Olympic Classes. The Australian duo have been close to unbeatable for the past six months, lifting the Tornado and Formula 18 World titles and recently adding victory at the Tornado Europeans to their win earlier in the year in Miami.

Next stop for the Olympic Classes is Hyères, France and the first of the year’s ISAF Grade 1 European regattas. Racing at the Semaine Olympique Française gets underway this Sunday 22 April with all the top names expected to feature.

About The Rankings

The ISAF World Sailing Rankings rate skippers based on their performances over the last two years. Skippers score points by competing in ISAF Graded events. The top finishers at all ISAF Graded events score Rankings points, with the highest points awarded to the event winner and then decreasing down relative to position. The most points are up for grabs at World Championship events, followed by ISAF Grade C1 events, Grade 1, Grade 2 etc. For more on how the Rankings work CLICK HERE.

The tables on the right hand side show the new events included in this Ranking release. The next Rankings release will be on 2 May 2007, following the ISAF Grade 1 Semaine Olympique Française.

1. Men's Windsurfer - RS:X
2. Women's Windsurfer - RS:X
3. Men's One Person Dinghy - Laser
4. Women's One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial
5. Men's Two Person Dinghy - 470
6. Women's Two Person Dinghy - 470
7. Skiff - 49er
8. Heavyweight Dinghy - Finn
9. Multihull - Tornado
10. Women's Keelboat - Yngling
11. Men's Keelboat - Star

1. Men's Windsurfer - RS:X

World #1 Ivan PASTOR © Javier Rios

Ivan PASTOR (ESP) holds on to the Men’s RS:X top spot, although the Spanish world #1 would have been hoping for a better finish than ninth overall at this home regatta, the ISAF Grade 2 Princess Sofia Trophy in Palma. Behind PASTOR, Nick DEMPSEY (GBR) trades places with Nicolas HUGUET (FRA) to move into the #2 spot.

Tom ASHLEY (NZL) picked up from where he left off winning the RS:X South Americans by taking the title in Palma ahead of this year’s other on form sailor Przemyslaw MIARCZYNSKI (POL). ASHLEY is currently at #9 in the Rankings, whilst MIARCZYNSKI gains one place up to #4. His team mate Piotr MYSZKA (POL) is also on the move up, gaining three places to #7 after a bronze medal finish in Palma.

Outside of the top 20, the most significant move comes from Aron GADORFALVI (HUN), who climbs up from #41 to #27 after winning the ISAF Grade 2 Expert Olympic Garda and finishing 16th in Palma.

Men's Windsurfer ISAF World Sailing Rankings

2. Women's Windsurfer - RS:X

Barbara KENDALL celebrates with the Absolute Trophy © Ruben Ballester/ www.nicomartinez.com

Marina ALABAU (ESP) remains firmly in the world #1 spot in the Women’s RS:X Rankings, after picking up Spain’s only medal of the regatta with a bronze at the ISAF Grade 2 Princess Sofia Trophy. Bryony SHAW (GBR) will have been disappointed to have missed the Medal Race in Palma, but nevertheless remains at #2, whilst Romy KINZL (GER) gains five places up to #3.

Other movers in the top 20 are Zofia KLEPACKA (POL), fourth in Palma and up five places to #4 in the world, and Charline PICON (FRA), runner up in Palma and up six places to #14.

A little further back two of the legends of women’s windsurfing are making their way steadily towards the world top 20 on the back of infrequent, but highly impressive results. Reigning World Champion Alessandra SENSINI (ITA) was in the medal hunt through the regatta in Palma but suffered from a poor Medal Race which relegated her from third to fifth overall. Still she climbs from #43 to #36 in this Ranking and is still only counting four events. It is a similar story for Palma winner Barbara KENDALL (NZL), who held her nerve in the Medal Race to take series victory and the Absolute Trophy for best overall performance. As a result KENDALL moves up seven places to #30 and like SENSINI she is counting just four events.

Women's Windsurfer ISAF World Sailing Rankings

3. Men's One Person Dinghy - Laser

A year at the top for Paul GOODISON © Tomasz Ignatowicz

Paul GOODISON (GBR) makes it a year at the top, as he holds on to the world #1 spot for the eighth consecutive release of the Laser Rankings. Since winning the Europeans and the Olympic Test event last year, the British skipper has held a firm grip on the top spot , replacing Robert SCHEIDT (BRA) as the man to beat in the class.

Tom SLINGSBY (AUS) remains at #2, although neither he nor GOODISON were at the top of their game at the ISAF Grade 2 Princess Sofia Trophy, finishing fifth and eighth respectively. It was a more unfamiliar name who ended up scoring victory in Palma, with Julio ALSOGARAY (ARG) taking the title. The 26 year old Argentinean has made rapid progress up the Rankings over the past 12 months and was an impressive 18th at the 2006 Lasers Worlds in Korea. Still, overall victory in Palma came as a big surprise, especially the start-to-finish manner in which it was accomplished. ALSOGARAY currently lies #31 in the Rankings, although the world top 20 beckons if he can maintain the form he showed in Spain.

Another South American also makes waves in this Ranking release, with Mathias DEL SOLAR (CHI) climbing up one spot to #3 after dominating the ISAF Grade C1 Laser Central and South American Championships. Other major event wins in the Laser class have gone to Marc DE HAAS (NED) at the ISAF Grade 2 Expert Olympic Garda, 2006 ISAF Youth Worlds Champion Luke RAMSAY (CAN) at the ISAF Grade 2 Laser Midwinters West, Allen JULIE (SEY) at the ISAF Grade 2 Europa Cup - Andora and Jean Baptist BERNAZ (FRA) at the ISAF Grade 2 Europe Cup in Hyères.

Men's One Person Dinghy ISAF World Sailing Rankings

4. Women's One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial

Jo ALEH © Nelson Mail

Evi VAN ACKER’s (BEL) wins at the ISAF Grade 2 Princess Sofia Trophy and ISAF Grade 2 Expert Olympic Garda keep her in the Laser Radial world #1 spot for the third consecutive Ranking release, with the remaining top three of Tania ELIAS CALLES (MEX) and Anna TUNNICLIFFE (USA) also unchanged. However the respective world #2 and #3 enjoyed contrasting fortunes in Palma, with ELIAS CALLES winning the Medal Race to move up to second overall, whilst TUNNICLIFFE was unable to recover from a terrible start and ended 17th overall.

Palma was the first ISAF Graded regatta of the year for World Champion Lijia XU (CHN), with the 19 year old sailing a consistent series to finish fifth overall and climb up from #33 to #27 in the Rankings.

Several of the class’s other young stars also demonstrated their potential in recent regattas. At 17 years old Arantza GUMUCIO (CHI) is already a veteran of two ISAF Youth Worlds and is now the ISAF Grade C1 Laser Central and South American Champion and current at #71 in the World Rankings. Elsewhere 17 year old Anna DOBSON (GBR) moves up from #184 to #153 after winning the ISAF Grade 2 Europa Cup - Andora, whilst ISAF Grade 2 Laser Midwinters West winner, 16 year old Isabella BERTOLD (CAN), is at #56.

Women's One Person Dinghy ISAF World Sailing Rankings

5. Men's Two Person Dinghy - 470

Nick ROGERS and Joe GLANFIELD on the up © Dan Nerney/Rolex

There is no change at the top of the Men's 470 Rankings as Mathew BELCHER and Nick BEHRENS (AUS) hold on to the #1 position ahead of Gidi KLIGER and Udi GAL (ISR). The first change comes at #10 where Nick ROGERS and Joe GLANFIELD (GBR) make their return to the top ten after a year's absence after finishing 20th at the ISAF Grade 2 Princess Sofia Trophy. The only other climbers in the top 20 are Pierre LEBOUCHER and Vincent GAROS (FRA), who move up two places to #14 after finishing third in Palma.

Six new teams join the Men's 470 Rankings with the highest being Francesco BERTAGNA and Marco GIANNINI (ITA) at #180 following their 13th place finish at the ISAF Grade 2 Expert Olympic Garda. Five places behind BERTAGNA and GIANNINI in Garda were Frederic MINUCCI and Guillaume HOLING (MON) and they join the Rankings at #188 to become the only team from Monaco on the Men's 470 Rankings.

Returning to the top 40 are Argentina's 2004 Olympic representatives Javier CONTE and Juan DE LA FUENTE. With a 21st in Palma and fourth in Barcelona, they are closing the gap on their countrymen Matias BUHLER and Marcos LAMAS (ARG) whose position remains at #33. Another 2004 Olympian is making his return to the Olympic circuit and makes a climb of 23 places up the rankings to #96. Johan MOLUND (SWE) finished just outside the medals in Athens in fourth place and with new crew Niels FLOHR placed fourth in Palma. CONTE and MOLUND are both entered to compete in Hyères next week and they will both be looking to further re-establish their mark on the Olympic circuit.

With just three events counting points from the Men's 470 fleet, two Grade 2 and one Grade 3 event there is little surprise that movements in position are minimal. 114 teams are registered to compete in Hyères including all but one of the top 20 ranked teams.

Men's Two Person Dinghy ISAF World Sailing Rankings

6. Women's Two Person Dinghy - 470

Marcelien DE KONING and Lobke BERKHOUT celebrate their Palma win © Ruben Ballester/ www.nicomartinez.com

As in the Men's 470 Rankings, the highest change in position in the women's rankings comes at #10. Giulia CONTI and Giovanni MICOL (ITA) add the points from their tenth place finish at the ISAF Grade 2 Princess Sofia Trophy in Palma to move up one place to the #10 position, pushing down Elise RECHICHI and Tessa PARKINSON (AUS) to #11. The gold medal at the ISAF Grade 2 Expert Olympic Garda did not give CONTI and MICOL enough points to add to their total but is another sign that this young team are becoming a force to be reckoned with on the circuit since they joined the Rankings almost exactly a year ago.

At #19, Ai KONDO and Kamata NAOKO (JPN) claim their career best Ranking position by entering the top 20 for the first time. With a gold medal at the ISAF Grade 3 Barcelona Olympic Sailing Week and fourth in Palma, it is no surprise to see the Japanese crew move up. Like KONDO, triple Olympic medallist Ruslana TARAN (UKR) is back in the 470 with her long time crew Olena PAKHOLOVIC (UKR) and is now counting points from the maximum seven events and she also returns to the top 20 at #20.

Christina BASSADONE and Saskia CLARK (GBR) are ever closer to securing the #1 position for a full year as they stay firm at the top of the Rankings ahead of Marcelien DE KONING and Lobke BERKHOUT (NED) at #2 and Ingrid PETITJEAN and Nadege DOUROUX (FRA) at #3.

Women's Two Person Dinghy ISAF World Sailing Rankings

7. Skiff - 49er

The start of the 49er Medal Race in Palma © Ruben Ballester/ www.nicomartinez.com

There is just one event counting points for the 49er fleet in this Ranking - the ISAF Grade 2 Princess Sofia Trophy. The top 20 sailors remain in position with Jan-Peter PECKOLT and Hannes PECKHOLT (GER) holding on to the #1 position for the third consecutive Ranking release ahead of Italian brothers Pietro SIBELLO and Gianfranco SIBELLO.

In a cracking Medal Race in Palma, European Champions Stevie MORRISON and Ben RHODES (GBR) hung on to take the gold medal by one point from Danish duo Peter HANSEN and Soren HANSEN. Neither team change their Ranking positions of #4 and #8 respectively but MORRISON and RHODES close the gap on the #3 team Marcus BAUR and Hannes BAUMANN (GER) to just 56 points.

There is one new entry to the 49er Rankings and that is the silver medallist from the 2006 29er World Championship Dylan FLETCHER (GBR) who, crewed by Alain SIGN, finished 35th in Palma to join the Rankings at #114.

Skiff ISAF World Sailing Rankings

8. Heavyweight Dinghy - Finn

Jonas HOEGH-CHRISTENSEN still #1 © Dan Nerney/Rolex

The Finn fleet have four events adding points to this Ranking release but the two Grade 2 and two Grade 3 events do not carry enough weight to shift any of the top 20 sailors. World Champion Jonas HOEGH-CHRISTENSEN (DEN) stays at the #1 position for the seventh consecutive Ranking release with Daniel SLATER (NZL) at #2 and Ed WRIGHT (GBR) at #3.

At ISAF Grade 2 Princess Sofia Trophy, it was Marin MISURA (CRO) who took home the gold medal after a comfortable series in which he claimed four bullets from the nine races. MISURA is the first of two Croatian sailors in the top ten and he stays at #7, just one point ahead of Ivan KLJAKOVIC GASPIC (CRO) at #8.Further down the Rankings there is some jostling for position but very few major changes. One of the highest climbers is Nanno SCHUTTRUPS (NED) who moves up 42 places to #96 after finishing 14th at the ISAF Grade 2 Expert Olympic Garda. The highest new entry is for Giles SCOTT (GBR), the 2005 ISAF Youth Worlds gold medallist in the Laser. SCOTT finished 13th in Garda and enters the Rankings at #136, he also has a Laser Ranking of #43 but is entered to compete in the Finn at Hyères and his transition to the Finn could be an interesting story to watch over the coming months.

Heavyweight Dinghy ISAF World Sailing Rankings

9. Multihull - Tornado

Darren BUNDOCK and Glenn ASHBY look unbeatable © Ruben Ballester/ www.nicomartinez.com

Darren BUNDOCK and Glenn ASHBY (AUS) posted another regatta win in Palma to confirm their world #1 status in the Tornado World Rankings. The Australian pair scored yet another Medal Race bullet to finish top of the pile in the ISAF Grade C1 Tornado Europeans being contested in Palma. In second place overall and crowned European Champions were Iordanis PASHALIDES and Konstantinos TRIGONIS (GRE), with the Greek team climbing up five places to #10 in the Rankings.

Fernando ECHAVARRI and Anton PAZ (ESP) would have been very disappointed to miss the Medal Race at the Europeans but still remain at #2 in the Rankings, whilst Xavier REVIL and Christophe ESPAGNON (FRA) move up two places to #3 after finishing fourth in Palma.

BUNDOCK and ASHBY are looking increasingly dominant as the Tornado fleet head towards Cascais and the ISAF Sailing World Championships. Since the start of 2006 the pair have finished in the top two of every ISAF Graded regatta they have entered with the exception of Hyères last year, where they left a day early whilst leading the regatta, and the Olympic Test Event in Qingdao. During that run they have won the World Championship and taken over the world #1 spot – a position they now look set to occupy for a considerable time to come.

Multihull ISAF World Sailing Rankings

10. Women's Keelboat - Yngling

Sally BARKOW, Carrie HOWE and Debbie CAPOZZI won in Palma © Ruben Ballester/ www.nicomartinez.com

Ulrike SCHUEMANN, Ute HOEPFNER and Julia BLECK (GER) top the Yngling World Rankings for the third consecutive release, with the Germans posting a third place finish at the ISAF Grade 2 Princess Sofia Trophy. Behind them Vlada ILIENKO, Nina SHTROMERGER and Ekaterina KOVALENKO (RUS) and Anna BASALKINA, Ekaterina MAXIMOVA and Vlada UKRAINSTSERA (RUS) remain at #2 and #3 respectively.

For the second year running, the battle for gold in Palma went down to a Medal Race face off between 2005 World Champions Sally BARKOW, Carrie HOWE and Debbie CAPOZZI (USA) and Sarah AYTON, Pippa WILSON and Sarah WEBB (GBR). Again it was the American team that came out on top, although AYTON and her team could console themselves with the knowledge that they finished six places ahead of their major rivals for the British Yngling Olympic slot, Shirley ROBERTSON, Annie LUSH and Lucy MCGREGOR (GBR).

The rapidly developing Finnish Yngling team of Silja LEHTINEN, Maria KLEMETZ and Livia VARESMAA impressed again in Palma. A fifth place for them moves them up to #23 in the Rankings, still only counting four of a possible seven events.

Women's Keelboat ISAF World Sailing Rankings

11. Men's Keelboat - Star

World #1 Hamish PEPPER and Brad NICHOL © Roberto Vuilleumier/ Promovideo film production

Hamish PEPPER (NZL) holds on to the top spot in the Star Rankings, but behind him Robert SCHEIDT and Bruno PRADA (BRA) jump up two places to #3 after two emphatic victories in Mallorca, Spain.

PEPPER teamed up with American crew Brad NICHOL (USA) for the ISAF Grade 2 Princess Sofia Trophy and ISAF Grade C1 Star Eastern Hemisphere Championship in Spain, posting third and tenth places respectively to hold on to his world #1 status. Xavier ROHART and Pascal RAMBEAU (FRA) were more consistent with top five finishes at both events and remain at #2, but the real stars of the show in Mallorca were SCHEIDT and PRADA.

In atypical Palma conditions of predominantly light winds, the Brazilians downwind speed saw them dominate both regattas, building insurmountable leads before the last race of both regattas. After winning eight World titles and two Olympic gold medals in the Laser class, the Star fleet is now becoming accustomed to seeing the back of the Brazilian master’s famous yellow visor.

Other changes in the world top 20 see Iain MURRAY and Andrew PALFREY (AUS) climb up 12 places to #13 and Flavio MARAZZI and Christoph CHRISTEN (SUI) improve from #26 to #15. In winning the ISAF Grade C1 Star Western Hemisphere Championship, Fredrik LOOF (SWE) collected his fifth Silver Star and moves up with crew Anders EKSTROM (SWE) to #8. Second place at the Western Hemispheres also helps Olympic Solidarity sailor Peter BROMBY and crew Bill MCNIVEN (BER) continue their rise back up the Rankings from #70 to #51. Just behind them, new ISAF Grade C1 Star South American Champions Gastao BRUN and Marco LAGOA (BRA) are one of the highest climbers, gaining from #95 to #59.

Men's Keelboat ISAF World Sailing Rankings

The next Rankings release will be on 2 May 2007, following the ISAF Grade 1 Semaine Olympique Française